Connecting housing and energy use

Dr. Runa Das received an RRU SSHRC Institutional Grant to examine, in a nuanced and in-depth way, housing-related factors related to energy poverty, and by various types of household tenure.

Energy poverty is gaining public attention in Canada. Scholarly attention is even more limited. The purpose of this research is to examine more nuanced and in-depth housing related factors related to energy poverty, and among various types of household tenure, e.g. homeowners, renters, renters supported by subsidized rent. Housing as a field (rather than housing as a building) has not been connected too much with energy poverty, even though there are synergies. Both housing and energy services are considered essential needs and their examination both together and separately could illuminate, who and how people are most vulnerable. For example, are those in subsidized living more vulnerable to living in energy inefficient dwellings versus renters not living in subsidized housing? And for both groups, are energy needs being met? This study has the potential to make more evident modern needs in society, and if these are being met for Canadians.